Blood Unit Discard Rates Due to Transfusion-Transmissible Infections and Non-Infectious Causes and Their Associated Factors in Eastern and Northeastern Parts of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study From 2022-2025.

BACKGROUND

Blood is an irreplaceable medical resource, yet blood unit discard remains a significant challenge for transfusion services. This study aimed to evaluate discard rates by integrating both infectious (TTI) and non-infectious causes and identifying factors associated with blood wastage to provide evidence to support strategies for improving blood safety.

METHODS

An institutional-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 2022 to 2025 across Dessie, Kemise, Woldia, and Sekota Blood Banks. Data were extracted from Blood Bank databases using a structured checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 26.0. Both univariable and Multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify predictors of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) and non-infectious causes, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Records from 60,008 donors and 67,976 blood products were reviewed. A total of 6,130 units (9.02%) were discarded. TTIs accounted for 4.6% of discards, led by Hepatitis B virus (2.0%) and Syphilis (1.2%). Non-infectious causes contributed 4.4%, primarily due to expiration (2.0%). ABO group, Rh factor, donor age, donor type, collection site, and Blood Bank location were identified as significant predictors of discard.

CONCLUSION

The study reveals a notable blood unit discard rate of 9.02%, driven equally by infectious transfusion-transmissible infections and non-infectious factors like expiration. Key risk factors include donor demographics, blood group, and specific blood bank locations, highlighting the need for better inventory management and targeted donor selection.